President stresses cyber crime vigilance

Hanoi (VNA) - President Tran Dai Quang has called on the
nation to be aware of the threat of cyber crime and the importance of ensuring
network safety and security as the country embarks on the Fourth Industrial
Revolution.

In a message released on the occasion of the
72nd anniversary of the Vietnamese Police Day, which falls on August 19, the
President stressed that cyber space has become an integral part of people’s
life and plays a very important role in building an information-based society
and knowledge-based economy.

“In addition to the tremendous benefits that
cyberspace brings, countries also face risks like cyber war, cyber spying,
cyber attacks, cyber criminals and many more complex issues,” he said, adding
that in the case of Vietnam, for several years now, hostile forces and cyber
criminals have increased network attacks to collect information, State secrets,
domestic secrets, and to hijack and sabotage the information network system.

“They have used the Internet, especially social
networking sites, with sophisticated methods and tricks to create internal
dissension, infringe the nation’s interests and undermine national security,”
he said.

President Quang commended efforts made by the
Party, the Government and the people to ensure network safety and security both
in actions and policies.

He noted in particular the 2013 issuance of Directive No 28-CT/TW by the Party
Central Committee on enhancing information security and the Prime Minister’s
Directive No 15/CT-TTg dated June 17, 2014, on ensuring network security and
safety in the new situation.

However, the President also cautioned that
network information was unsafe in some places and securing it was a
“complicated” task because the legal framework was inadequate and
implementation was not effective.

“The State management of safety and security has
loopholes and has not kept up with the pace of development and application of
information technology, especially online newspapers, social networks, online
games, prepaid cellular, telecommunications services and the Internet,” he
said.

He said this underscored “an urgent need to
create a profound change in the awareness of the Party committees, authorities
as well as mass organisations from the central to local levels on the
importance of ensuring network safety and security,” he said, saying everyone
should consider it an important, urgent, regular and long-term task.

He called for resistance to propaganda, distortions and provocations by hostile
forces.

"This requires close coordination among
ministries, committees and mass organisations at all levels and continuous
building and perfecting of policies and laws on network safety and
security," he said.

The President also called for more focus on
building and issuing the National Network Security Strategy, the Law on Network
Security and guiding documents that specify safety standards and procedures for
appraising plans and measures to protect safety and security of important
information systems.

“Important national security information systems
must be regularly inspected and evaluated from the perspective of network
security from the design stage to when they become operational,” he said.

He also said it was necessary to develop human
resources, build up a network of elite network security forces and adopt
mechanisms to mobilise, support and promote organisations and individuals in
ensuring network safety and security.

International cooperation in network safety and
security should be stepped up by joining international conventions and
agreements on cyber crime prevention, he said.

“It is necessary to step up cooperation with
hi-tech countries, organisations and economic groups in the development of
information technology in order to train human resources, acquire new
technologies and experience in ensuring network safety and security,” he said.-VNA